The best of Inverness Cocktail Week
The Inverness bars our customers rate most: voted into the top three for their bar or their signature cocktail, praised most in our customer survey, or with the most hearts in our vote. 7 stops, about 11 minutes on foot from first to last.
Encore Une Fois
3Third most popular bar 20263Third favourite cocktail 2026About 4 min walk to Jimmy Badgers
Jimmy Badgers
3Third most popular bar 20253Third favourite cocktail 2025About 1 min walk to The White House
The White House
Praised in our customer survey. Taken part in 2 editions of Inverness Cocktail Week.
About 1 min walk to Perk Coffee & Doughnuts
Perk Coffee & Doughnuts
1Most popular bar 20261Favourite cocktail 2026About 1 min walk to Scotch & Rye
The Babette
2Second favourite cocktail 2026
More routes
Short walks of 3 to 5 stops for different nights out, put together from what we know about each venue. Open one to see the map and stops, print it with walking directions, or load it into your own trail and change it.
An evening around Church Street4 stops · about 3 min walk · 4 partner bars around Church Street, all a short walk apart.
An evening around Academy Street4 stops · about 4 min walk · 4 partner bars around Academy Street, all a short walk apart.
An evening by the River Ness4 stops · about 18 min walk · 4 partner bars by the River Ness, all a short walk apart.
Date night route5 stops · about 13 min walk · 5 stops that suit a night for two, close enough to walk between.
The Church Street and the High Street route5 stops · about 4 min walk · The oldest street in Inverness, with a whisky bar, live music venues and pubs, close to the High Street.
Drinks outside route5 stops · about 9 min walk · 5 stops with terraces or outdoor seating for the drier nights.
Make your own trail
My Inverness cocktail trail
Pick how many stops you want and where to start, and we'll line up the nearest bars in walking order. Drag the boxes to change the order, add any stop from the list below, and the map and walking times update as you go. When it's ready, print it or send it to your group on WhatsApp.
Your trail map shows here.
Every stop on the map
Every one of the 22 venues on the trail, so you can see what's near you. The numbers match the list below. Zoom in to explore, tap a number for the venue, or print the lot.
Choose from 24 of Inverness's best venues
Every venue with its address, opening times, website and what our customers said. The numbers match the map. Add any of them to your own trail.
Photo: Great Resources on Google MapsStop 1: Little Italy
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Sat noon to 10pm, Sun closed
Stop 2: Fig & Thistle Bistro
A popular bistro with good food, wine and cocktails in a cosy, relaxed room.
Opening times (Google Maps): Every day noon to 9pm
Stop 3: Scran
A restaurant in the Eastgate Centre.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11am to 5pm, Fri and Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 11am to 4pm
Stop 4: Number 27 Bar & Kitchen
A lively independent bar on Castle Street with local game and seasonal produce on the menu.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Fri noon to 10:30pm, Sat noon to 11pm, Sun 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Stop 5: Gellion's
A pub on Bridge Street that opened in 1841, with live music every night and a ceilidh on Saturdays.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11am to 1am, Fri and Sat 11am to 3am, Sun 11am to 1am
Stop 6: The Wee Bar
A bar upstairs on Ness Walk, by the river, with music.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 5pm to midnight, Fri 5pm to 1am, Sat 1pm to 1am, Sun 5pm to midnight
Stop 7: Encore Une Fois
3Third most popular bar 20263Third favourite cocktail 2026A Highland restaurant and bar on Young Street inspired by Bonnie Prince Charlie, with hearty meat and fish and plenty of whisky.
“Encore, good atmosphere”Inverness Cocktail Week customer, 2025
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu noon to 11pm, Fri and Sat noon to midnight, Sun noon to 11pm
Stop 8: Coyote Burger
A burger restaurant on Bank Street, by the river.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu noon to 9pm, Fri and Sat 11am to 10pm, Sun noon to 9pm
Stop 9: Jimmy Badgers
3Third most popular bar 20253Third favourite cocktail 2025A bar on Church Street.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu noon to 11pm, Fri and Sat noon to midnight, Sun noon to 11pm
Photo: David Donton on Google MapsStop 10: Lauders Bar
Stop 11: MacCallums
A pub on Union Street with music.
Opening times (Google Maps): Every day 11am to 1am
Stop 12: The White House
A bistro on Union Street with craft cocktails and pub food made with local ingredients.
“The White House for its chilled atmosphere”Inverness Cocktail Week customer, 2025
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu noon to 10:30pm, Fri and Sat noon to midnight, Sun noon to 10:30pm
Stop 13: Perk Coffee & Doughnuts
1Most popular bar 20261Favourite cocktail 2026A coffee and doughnut shop on Church Street.
“Perk- relaxed and delicious”Inverness Cocktail Week customer, 2025
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed 8am to 3pm, Thu 8am to 8pm, Fri and Sat 8am to 11:30pm, Sun 8am to 8pm
Stop 14: The Malt Room
An intimate bar on Church Street with over 350 single malt whiskies, local craft beer and cocktails.
“Loved the Malt Room such a special atmosphere”Inverness Cocktail Week customer, 2026
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Sat noon to 1am, Sun 3pm to 1am
Stop 15: Highlander
A live music bar on Church Street.
“Live music and good vibe”Inverness Cocktail Week customer, 2025
Opening times (Google Maps): Every day noon to 1am
Stop 16: Scotch & Rye
1Most popular bar 2025A prohibition-style bar and grill on Queensgate with gastropub food and a long cocktail list.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11am to 11pm, Fri and Sat 11am to 1am, Sun 11am to 11pm
Stop 17: The Caledonian
A pub on the High Street with sport.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11am to 11pm, Fri 11am to 2am, Sat 11am to 3am, Sun noon to 11pm
Stop 18: Playback
2Second favourite cocktail 2025A bar on Academy Street with games, food and music.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu noon to 11pm, Fri and Sat noon to 1am, Sun noon to 11pm
Stop 19: B&B Hotel
A design-led hotel on Academy Street with a bar and restaurant.
Stop 20: The Babette
2Second favourite cocktail 2026A French restaurant on Academy Street.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11am to 11pm, Fri and Sat 11am to 1am, Sun 11am to 11pm
Stop 21: Blackfriars
A bar and restaurant on Academy Street.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Fri 8am to 11pm, Sat open 24 hours, Sun 8am to 11pm
Stop 22: Beira
A restaurant and bar on Glebe Street, by the River Ness.
Opening times (Google Maps): Every day noon to 9:45pm
Also in Inverness
Soundbar
Uile-bheist Taproom
Built from the venues that have taken part in Inverness Cocktail Week, updated every night. Venues Google lists as closed are left off until they reopen. Opening times, phone numbers and ratings are from Google Maps.
More of Inverness after dark
Good to know
What are the best cocktail bars in Inverness?
On our trail, the best of Inverness Cocktail Week is Encore Une Fois, Jimmy Badgers, The White House, Perk Coffee & Doughnuts, Scotch & Rye, Playback and The Babette. They're the venues our customers rate most, from survey votes for the best bar and best cocktail, comments and hearts in our vote. Every one has taken part in Inverness Cocktail Week.
How long does the best of Inverness Cocktail Week take to walk?
About 11 minutes on foot across 7 stops, not counting time at the bar. Most people pick four or five stops for a night, so make it your own and drop any you want to skip.
What other routes are there on the Inverness cocktail trail?
An evening around Church Street (4 stops, about 3 minutes), An evening around Academy Street (4 stops, about 4 minutes), An evening by the River Ness (4 stops, about 18 minutes), Date night route (5 stops, about 13 minutes), The Church Street and the High Street route (5 stops, about 4 minutes), Hidden bars route (3 stops, about 6 minutes) and Drinks outside route (5 stops, about 9 minutes). Open one to see its map, print it with walking directions or make it your own trail.
Can I make my own Inverness cocktail trail?
Yes. Choose how many stops you want and where to start, and we'll line up the nearest venues in walking order. Add or remove stops, drag them into a different order, then print it with walking directions or send it to your group on WhatsApp.
Is the Inverness cocktail trail free?
Yes. The trail, the routes and the printable maps are free. You pay for drinks at each venue. During Inverness Cocktail Week a wristband unlocks a signature cocktail at every venue taking part.
Is there a printable Inverness cocktail trail map with walking directions?
Yes. Every route, and any trail you make yourself, has a Print with directions button. You get a page with the map and street names, each stop's address and opening times, and turn-by-turn walking directions with the time between stops.
Which bars are on the Inverness cocktail trail?
24 venues that have taken part in Inverness Cocktail Week, including Little Italy, Fig & Thistle Bistro, Scran, Number 27 Bar & Kitchen, Gellion's and The Wee Bar. The trail updates itself every night as venues join or close.
Inverness Cocktail Week
The next Inverness Cocktail Week runs 19 to 28 February 2027. One wristband unlocks signature cocktails from £5.